Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Genius Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Genius Chiang Songhai knew quite a few medicinal herbs, and sometimes when he gathered more than usual, he would dry and save them to sell at the town market during market days.
A few years ago, he happened to save a child suffering from heatstroke at the marketplace using a flask of herbal tea he had brought with him, The child’s grandfather was very grateful to him and, seeing that he had some rare herbs, proposed that for several future market days, Chiang Songhai wouldn’t need to set up a stall; they could simply meet at a designated place and sell the herbs directly to him.
The price offered was fair, and it saved Chiang Songhai the time he would’ve spent sitting in the marketplace, so naturally, he was happy to agree.
That person was Doctor Min.
Doctor Min kept his word and bought herbs from Chiang Songhai several times. On two of those occasions, Chiang Songhai took Chiang Xiao with him.
Doctor Min took a liking to Chiang Xiao, and one time, after Chiang Songhai had sold the herbs and was about to go shopping, Doctor Min even volunteered to take Chiang Xiao with his grandson Xiao Sun to eat steamed buns.
“Does Doctor Min have something to do with that brush?” Chiang Songhai thought to himself, his expression turning slightly strange, his eyes revealing a hint of unease.
Chiang Xiao shook her head, “That’s not what I mean, Grandfather. I’m saying, that time when I went with Uncle Min to eat steamed buns, he saw that brush you gave me, and then he said, ‘This brush looks very suitable for painting.'”
“Uncle Min can not only treat illnesses but also paint,” Chiang Xiao continued. “At that time, he taught me how to study painting and even gave me a book on how to paint. With that book, I’ve been continuously learning.”
That year, Ge Liutao also came to know about Doctor Min.
She even remembered the book that Chiang Xiao mentioned.
With that mention, Chiang Songhai also remembered, “Is that the little drawing book you’ve always been looking at?”
Most of what Chiang Xiao said was true.
Doctor Min did indeed like her back then, took her to eat steamed buns once, and even to a bookstore. However, having seen that brush was false, and naturally, teaching her to paint was false as well.
That little drawing book was actually a comic book about an ancient legend, not a book about learning to paint at all.
However, she remembered that no one had ever looked through her comic book back then, and later, Ho Laidi accidentally burned it.
As for how she learned to paint, Chiang Xiao also spent a long time contemplating before dredging up these memories from the depths of her mind.
As for the painting practice, that was even easier to explain. She always disliked socializing with others, often staying alone and frequently using a small stick to doodle on the ground, claiming she was practicing secretly.
Doctor Min had passed away and couldn’t suddenly appear to expose her.
Upon hearing what she said, Chiang Songhai believed her mostly.
But he was still surprised, “Little could learn so much just from that drawing book?”
Chiang Xiao playfully winked at him, “That’s right, Grandfather, I am a genius, you know.”
Chiang Songhai couldn’t help but laugh at her playfulness, and at the same time, he felt very joyful inside.
In the past, Chiang Xiao had never had such mischievous moments; she was always quiet and would occasionally retreat into her own world and shed tears.
“Grandfather, can you now tell me where that brush came from?” Chiang Xiao brought the topic back.
Hearing her question, Chiang Songhai seemed a bit nervous and uneasy.
He sighed softly, lowering his voice, “You didn’t mention it, but I really didn’t want to remember this. That brush, I got it from an ancient tomb.”